Chest-protector



(No Model.)

F. MoNUTT. CHEST PROTECTOR.

Patented Feb. 9, 1897.

Tom 0,1;

flu: Norms n75 co., PHOTO-LUNG" WASHIN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN MCNUTT, OF HIGH HILL, OHIO.

CH EST-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 576,880, datedFebruary 9, 1897. Application filed November 16, 1896. Serial No.612,300. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN MONUTT, of High Hill, in the county ofMuskingum and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Chest and Lung Protectors and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in chest or lung protectors, theobject being to provide a protector adapted to cover the trunk .of thebody, with devices for securely holding one or more thicknesses ofpaper, cloth, or the like, whereby the body can be kept at an eventemperature in all kinds of weather.

A further object is to provide an article which in itself is alung-protector, with means for attaching thereto additional thicknessesof cloth or paper, the article being so formed as to inclose the trunkof the body and permit of free and-unobstructed movementvof the same,thereby facilitating respiration and the superficial circulation of theblood.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of myimprovement, partly broken away to illustrate the several thicknesses ofmaterial constituting said front portion. Fig. 2 is a rear view of saidimprovement, partly broken away to illustrate the several thicknessesconstituting said rear portion; and Fig. 3 is a view in horizontalsection of said protector.

A represents the lung-protector, which resembles an ordinary sleevelessundershirt. This protector is made of flannel and is provided at itsback with a centrally-located slit extending from its collar-band asufficient distance down the back to permit of the passage of the headof the wearer through the collarband. This slit when the device is inuse is closed by one or more buttons and corresponding buttonholes. Theprotector is made of two thicknesses of flannelconnected together at thecollar-band a, at the slit 1), at the armholes 0, and at the side withseams d. The lower edges of the two thicknesses B O of the material aredisconnected, thus leaving the lower ends open for the introduction ofsheets or shields of paper or fabric. The collar-band a, armholes c, andslit 1) are bound by braid stitched to the inner and outer thicknesses BC, while the lower edges of said parts B O are covered each by anindependent braid.

The rear face of the protector is strengthened by reinforcing-strips f,secured to the inner face of the outersectionB. These strips extend fromthe slit 1) to the armholes c, and each, together with the outer layeror thickness B, is provided with a buttonhole for the passage of buttonssecured to the inner face of the inner section 0 of the protector. Thefront of the protector is also reinforced by a strip g, extending in acurved line from one armhole to the other and passing just below thefront of the collar-band. This front is also reinforced by the braid h,extending from one armhole to the other. A series of buttons 2',attached to the inner face of the inner section 0, pass throughbuttonholes formed in the reinforcing-strip g and section B.

'While I can use cloth for giving additional thickness to the protectorI prefer to use glazed papersufficiently thin so that it will yield andgive to the various movements of the body. These shields correspond inshape approximately to the front and rear sides, respectively, of theprotector and are secured in place between the inner and outer sectionsB O of said protector by the buttons 2', which pass through holes formedin the paper shields and through the holes formed in thereinforcing-strips and front and rear outer sections of the protector.

The sheet of paper used in the back of the protector is centrallyslitted to correspond with the slit in the back of the protector.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the two thicknesses of flannelform in themselves a very desirable lung-protector, which will besufiicient'in ordinary weather.

When necessary, the paper or cloth shields can be inserted between theinner and outer thicknesses of material and be removably secured inplace by the buttons before described. The paper can, after usage, beremoved and serve as patterns for making new shields.

It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangementof the several parts might be made without avoiding inyinvention, andhence I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to theparticular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described;but,

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. As an article of manufacture, alungprotector composed of two layers or thicknesses of materialconnected together at the side and top edges and disconnected at thebottom edge, removable shields interposed between these layers orthicknesses and buttons sewed to one layer orthickness at or near theextreme upper end of the latter and adapted to button throughbuttonholes in the shield and other layer whereby the shield isremovably secured inside the protector at or near the upper end of thelatter so that it hangs suspended naturally in consequence of itsweight, substantially as set forth.

2. Airing-protector adapted to inclose the upper portion of the body andprovided with neck-openin g and armholes, the said protector beingcomposed of inner and outer sections disconnected at their lower ends,reinforcingstrips' secured to the inner faces of the outer sections,buttons secured to the inner faces of the inner sections and adapted topass through buttonholes formed in the reinforcin g-strips and outersections and paper sheets interposed between said inner and outersections and held in place by the buttons, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN MGNUT".

"iv'itnessesz XVILLIAM J. BELL, ULYssns Fniizrnn.

